Fifa set to trial new offside rule with semi-automatic system deemed ‘too accurate’
FIFA are reportedly set to trial a new offside rule after the semi-automatic system they introduced was deemed “too accurate”.
The system, which uses 10 cameras to track 29 body points of each player, was brought in by the governing body for the World Cup.
The semi-automatic offside technology was initially meant to be rolled out for the opening fixture of the tournament in Qatar.
But Uefa stole a march on Fifa as it was deployed in the Super Cup fixture between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt.
However, now it seems that the accuracy of the semi-automatic offsides were restricting attacking play.
And now they are considering changing the rule so if any part of the body you can score with is level with the defender you are not offside.
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A trial will have to be held first before any change goes through, with claiming that Italian U18 matches could be used to try it out.
He wrote: “Fifa is thinking of a new modification that would go against the canons of semi-automatic offside.
“In fact, the latter has such a high degree of accuracy that it limits the teams' offensive play.
“It is therefore decided to consider an attacker in play who has at least one part of the body good for scoring in a regular position , bringing the concept of ‘light’ out into the open.
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“Another reason for this hypothetical change could also be the fact that players are often penalised for a part of the body that does not even benefit them.”
He added: “Before definitively inserting this new rule, however, it must be tested at lower levels.
“For this reason, Fifa has chosen, among others, the Italian U18 championship to verify the feasibility and collect significant data.”
No official announcement has yet been made by Fifa regarding the potential rule change or trial.